Douglas County’s unemployment rate decreased to 8.6 percent in September, matching its largest recorded one-month drop, the Georgia Department of Labor reported.

The unemployment rate declined by 0.6 of a percent, from 9.2 percent in August to 8.6 percent in September — the largest drop since the rate declined from 10.8 to 10.2 percent from February to March 2011, said state labor market analyst Corey Smith.

“Construction; Administrative and Support Services; and Retail Trade were industries with the largest drop in jobless claims over the month,” Smith said in an e-mail.

A total of 797 more residents were employed in September — with the number rising from 62,377 in August to 63,174 in September. A total of 382 fewer residents were unemployed over the month — decreasing from 6,310 in August to 5,928 in September.

Initial claims for jobless benefits dropped from 606 in August to 485 in September.

In September 2011, the unemployment rate in Douglas County was 10.1 percent and 662 initial claims for jobless benefits were filed, he said.

In a separate report on city jobless rates, Douglasville showed an even sharper drop in unemployment over the month — from 10.1 percent in August to 9.1 percent in September. The city’s jobless rate in September 2011 was 11.6 percent.

Neighboring counties’ September rates ranged from Cobb at 7.7 percent and Paulding at 8.0 percent; to Carroll’s 8.9 percent and Fulton’s 9.2 percent.

The unemployment rate for Metro Atlanta — encompassing 28 counties — dropped from 8.8 percent in August to 8.4 percent in September. The rate was 9.7 percent in September 2011.

Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped from 9.2 percent in August to 9.0 percent in September. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in September 2011.

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